If you’ve ever moved away from a hometown or area; How long has it been since you last returned? What have you done in and with your life since you left that area? Do you even want to return to that city or town?
My answers to those questions are complex and honestly really positive. As we drove on the low slung I-275 bridge over the Tampa Bay during one of the region’s infamous thunderstorms (which consequently had my parents circling overhead in their plane waiting to land…) I was faced with years of memories and also how much my life has moved forward.
I call St Petersburg FL my hometown and it’s been six years since I was last here.
I’ve gone to the ends of the earth since I last was in town. I’ve had two more kids since we were here last. I’ve completely failed in ministry and been built back up by a faithful God in the time since we last came to St Pete FL.
Those are a the kinds of life events that cause you to develop a new home in the place where they happened and yet none of them happened in my hometown. I’m thankful for a God whose work in our life creates a new kind of home; the home of right where we are at this moment. And according to God’s Word in 2nd Corinthians 5 while we’re on this earth, we’re not at ‘Home.’
For the next eight days though, it’s so good to be home!